Digital product passport with reduced administrative burden

With the publication of harmonised technical standards and the launch of the official register, the Digital Product Passport (DPP) is now in the final stages before becoming fully operational. The first implementation date, set for 18 February 2027 for large-scale batteries, has been made possible thanks to the European Commission’s completion of the two crucial elements relating to the technical and regulatory infrastructure.

The DPP is an electronic document linked to each product that brings together essential information throughout its entire life cycle: from production to distribution, and day-to-day use to recycling. The aim is to provide all stakeholders in the supply chain – manufacturers, repairers, recyclers, regulatory authorities and end consumers – with structured and verifiable technical and environmental data, in support of the European strategy for a circular and sustainable economy. For companies, the DPP not only introduces a new regulatory requirement but also presents a concrete opportunity: adopting the standards in good time and completing registration means positioning oneself as a verified operator in the European market.

For end consumers, however, the Dpp is a tool for direct transparency: by scanning the code on the product, it is possible to access information on materials, repair options, environmental impact and proper disposal, guiding purchasing decisions towards more informed and sustainable consumption.

Meanwhile, Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/1736 of 14 July 2026 recognised, on an optional basis, six standards drawn up by the European technical committees CEN and CENELEC. The architecture is modular and interoperable: each standard covers a specific level of the system and can be updated independently. The standards govern: unique identifiers at three levels (model, batch, item); physical scanning technologies (QR codes, Data Matrix, NFC, RFID); secure protocols for data transmission, independent of individual suppliers’ systems; rules for data retention and updating throughout the lifecycle; API interfaces for passport management; interoperability between different sectors and systems. Adherence to these standards is optional, but those who do so benefit from a presumption of compliance with the requirements of the Espr Regulation, resulting in a significant reduction in verification burdens.

Under Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1778 of 16 July 2026, which came into force on 6 August, the centralised European register is now operational and already accessible online. The register does not store the full technical data of the products – a task that remains the responsibility of the economic operator – but functions as an indexing system, a sort of ‘official directory’ of digital passports. By scanning the QR code or the NFC chip on the product, the register directs the user to the product’s details, with the unique product identifiers, registration metadata, URL references and customs codes for market surveillance authorities being archived and available for consultation.